Bearing



Aug. 5, 1941.

w. F. SMITH BEARING Filed sept. 2s, 193s d/ms INVENTOR 'ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, 1941 n l2,251,469v

BEARING William F. Smith, Brooklyn, I d .I n n Application September 23, 1.938, Serial NOZVSLZSS 3 oisans. (creas- 169) This/invention relates to new and useful improvements -inbearings, and -more particularly to bearings on structures like high speed textile spindles where the usual ball andV roller bearing cannot be used to 4good advantage. Y

The-object `of the invention is to provide a bearing structure which in spite of the Well known operating difficulties encountered Willbe continuously lubricated during operation.` Y

Preferably, though not necessarily, the bearing is com-posedof self-lubricating materials, i.e.,l of porous bronze for Athe like, -in the interstces of which graphite and oil are trapped. When Vsuch bearing heats up, -the expansion of the oil causes it to come to the surface, and when the bearing cools off the excess Voil is reabsorbed. Depending onv their thickness, such bearings `can hold as much -as Vtwo-thirds of their volume in lubricant, and the entrapped lubricant can be supplemented byra separate reservoir of oil.

A The use of. self-'lubricating.bearings is particularly to be recommended in combination with spindles having chromium vplated bearing -surfaces.- Y n Y Y in order toexplain the nature Yof the invention, l shalludisclose certain embodiments vthereof and shall define its scope in the appended claims.

, vOne embodiment of the vinvention is illustrated in Fig.. 1. which isravertical cross-section of a .bearing structure for a shaft, spindle kor blade such Vas isrused in textile machinery;

Fig. 2.is an enlarged Vertical cross-section of the step bearing shown in Fig.1;,and

Fig. 3 isa vertical cross-section of ya ball bearing which may be used in the place of the neck bearingshown in Fig. 1.

I is a vertical blade, the lower portion-of which is pivoted in a stepbearing of special construction. Preferably, though not necessarily, this lower portion of the blade is chromium plated; The pointed tip or pivot 2 of the shaft and its tapering lower end 3 are seatedin the step bearing 4 held in asteel casing 5 vand positioned therein by means of an oil sump 6. Good results may be obtained if the bearing 4 is of self-lubricating material, `but the use of such material is not necessary.; The oil sumpf has an lexternally screw-threadedr neck TI' which screws into the internallyscrew threaded open end of casing 5, an oil tight seal being insured by a paper Washer 8.` VThe Vstep bearing 4 is seatedron the annular ledge formed by 1. v

The upper. part of thetapered blade endisheld by a neck bearing'comprising a bushing 9, also preferably ofslfilubricating material. The two ends of the bushing 9 are Ytapered and -t within a corresponding-lytapering seat formed by a cylinder I- constituting v-a Ylower ball socket, l and Aa ring /I I'` constituting the Yupper ball socket and which may also be--ofself-lubricatng material.

The taper of `theneck bearing land its seat is formed toa-'radius which is not struck from the geometrical-center of the bushingV 9 but froma point well! below that.- Y

The cylinder I 0 is a sliding fit'within the upper portion ofy casing- 5 and-is seated on a coiled spring I2 which-fis tapered tofconformvto -the taper of the blade. Y"The Aupper ball socket II is heldin the casing 5 Ybynieans of a springvring -I-3 which engages with al-groove -in the-casing. The bushing clears the -walls of the casing 5 all around. `The cylinder IG and ring I I contact with the inside surface of 5, exceptV for one or more `grooves such as I4, I5 cut in their sides.

The `tapered spiralv spring I2vis tightly wound and its vrlower endis closely ttedrin acounterbore inthe upper end -of step bearing 4 rvrThe upper two vorth'ree turns of spring I2 which are within--thecy-lindrical member Ill-.are not tightly wound and tend to liftmember I 0,the upper rim of Ywhich serves as a :seat `for the neck bearing 9. The spring-in effect formsv atube conforming to the contour ofspindle I with an internal thread clearing thevspindlawhereby oil will be fed from sump 6l spirally upwards under theiniluenceof thecentrifugal forceV setl up in the oilby the rotatingiblade. This `action is further supplementedv by the taper ofthe spring conforming to that/.of the shaftland the-combined A.action Vcauses positiveVY and Icontinuous Vcircul-ation of oil through the neck bearing' 9 in the direction indicated by the arrows l, Whenthelblade -I rotates and bearings 4 and 9 heat 'upfv if these bearings are Amade of selflubricating material,`- a .layer of` lubricant will form thereon which will protect the cooperating bearing surfaces ofY the shaft from becoming damaged without regard to fresh oil supply from sump 4Ii. When these bearings Jcool ofi, they will reabsorb oil vand -Will thus be available as local oil reservoirs.

The cil will continue its upward ,travel along the blade Iwuntil it is deected Vby a collar I6 providedon the blade.v From the deilector collar` the oil will drip and flow down through grooves I4, thenbetween bushing 9 andY casing 5, grooves I-5, thenvon the outside of the' coiled spring I0, land through two diametrically-'opposed channels I 'I in bearing 4, back into the oil sump 6.

'Inaddition tothe longitudinal grooves' ITV-extending throughout its length, the bearing 4 is provided with two shorter longitudinal grooves I8 which are displaced 90 from the grooves I'I. Grooves I8 extend only a part of the length from the bottom of bearing 4 and connect with two radial bores I9 which empty into the cavity of the bearing. The oil from sump 6 enters into the bearing through grooves I8 and bores I9.

Metallic or other abrasive particles displaced in the bearing surfaces are carried in the oil by gravity to the sump 6 where, due to the relatively low velocity of the oil and difference of specic gravity, together with change in direction of the oil flow, they are deposited at the bottom and only clean oil, free from abrasive matter, reenters the bearings.

The whole casing forms a reservoir which is normally lled with oil to a point level with socket II. However, the circulation of oil continues so long asv at rest the oil level reaches any point above the top of bearing 4.

Heretofore it has been the practice to permit the oil to enter a tube surrounding the blade through a perforation corresponding to I9 at some point above the step bearing 4. Where the diameter of the shaft is relatively great I have found that the oil is prevented from entering such aperture on account of the centrifugal force created at high speeds. In my construction the taper of bearing 4 above the pivot is made slightly greater than the taper of the blade, so that a gradually increasing clearance is obtained between the blade and the bearing with a minimum clearance at the bottom. This creates an increasing centrifugal force with increase of shaft diameter and causes the oil to be forced upwards. The displacement of oil permits entry of fresh oil through two radial holes I9 in the bottom of the bearing 4.

An important feature of my construction is the means provided to dampen vibration and equalize wear in the bearing surface of the neck bearing 9. In vertical shafts with over-hung unbalanced loads, and particularly in textile spindles of the type shown, it is well known that lateral vibration constitutes the most destructive force to which the bearings and shafts are subjected. This vibration may result from the dynamic unbalance of the rotating shaft or load supported thereon, or from impact of the pulley with irregularities in the frictional belt driving surfaces, or both. To permit the dynamic axis of the rotating element to assume a position coincident with the geometric axis and thereby reduce the magnitude of vibration, the bearing 9 v,

is mounted so as to permit limited and restrained lateral displacement in any plane.

The conforming radii between bearing 9 and sockets IU and II normally center the bearing but permit lateral displacement under the influence of vibration or impact loads, thereby cushioning the stress and shock between shaft and bearing and damping vibration, since the compression on bearing 9 increases as the vertical axis of the shaft is displaced due to the wedge action of the radii or taper between the bearing and its seat.

This method of mounting also permits axial alignment of bearing 9 Within predetermined limits sufficient to offset inaccuracies of manufacture or assembly, and which permits a smaller clearance between shaft and bearingwith uniform distribution of load on the bearing surfaces. g

The bearing 9 is free to rotate around its own axis. It is normally held against rotation by the friction resulting from the compression between members S, I0 and Il, but under the influence of torque and vibration from the rotating shaft, bearing 9 rotates or creeps slowly and continuously around its own axis. This assures uniform wear around the entire surface of the bearing and avoids localized pressure and Wear which would normally result in a fixed bearing and which would impair its useful life.

In place of neck bearing 9 a ball or roller bearing of suitable construction may be used, particularly in large sized spindles where sufcient space is available. The bearing is illustrated in Fig. 3 in which 20 and 2| are the inner and outer raceways, 22 the balls. In all other respects the construction is the same as in Fig. 1.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a spindle having a tapered end, a step bearing in which the point of the spindle is pivoted, a neck bearing for the upper part of the tapered end and having tapered upper and lower seats, a spring surrounding the spindle and spaced therefrom and compressed between said bearings, a casing surrounding said bearings and spring, and an oil sump communicating with the pivot point of the spindle through a radial charnel in the step bearing and with said casing through an axial channel in said step bearing. Y 2. In a bearing for the tapered end of a spindle, a step bearing having a tapered cavity for the point of the spindle, a closely Wound spiral spring surrounding said spindle throughout most of its tapered end and spaced therefrom, the lower end of the spring resting on top of said step bearing, a neck bearing having tapered upper and lower seats resiliently seated by means of said spring on said step bearing, a casing surrounding said tapered end up to past said neck bearing, and an oil sump enclosing the bottom of said casing and communicating with the cavity in said step bearing.

3. In a bearing for the tapered end of a spindie, a step bearing of self-lubricating material having a tapered cavity for the pivot point of the spindle, the taper of the cavity being slightly greater than the taper of the spindle, a closely wound spiral spring conforming to the contour of the spindle throughout most of the tapered end, the lower end of the spring resting on top of said step bearing, a cylinder seated on the relatively loosely wound upper end of the spring, said cylinder having an upper surface forming a seat sloping towards the spindle, a neck bearing of selflubricating material surrounding said tapered end above said spring and having edges tapering away from the spindle, the lower edge being partly resting on the sloping seat formed bythe upperv edge of said cylinder, a sloping socket engaging the upper tapered edge of said bearing, acasing surrounding said tapered end up to past said socket with a clearance between the casing and said spring, the clearance between the casing and the two bearings and seats consisting of longitudinal grooves, short longitudinal grooves displaced with respect to the first mentioned grooves and extending from the bottom of the step bearing to a point below the top thereof, said step bearing having radial perforations through which the short grooves therein communicate with the tapered cavity, and an oil sump enclosing the bottom of said casing and into which the short grooves open.

' WILLIAM F. SMITH. 

